The Daily News. MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1919. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1919, Page V

The Daily News. MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1919. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Amid the turmoil of a general election it is a matter of difficulty to get the electors to seriously consider what is best for the country in general. Party politics have taken so firm a 'hold on the community that, although there has been a five years' truce, the battle between the factions is now raging as furiously as ever, as if the respite had merely been a season of repression that gathered strength for a new struggle. The coalition was a mere war expedient for the purpose of absolute unity. In all other respects it was a deplorable failure so far as the welfare of the country was concerned, one of its most objectionable features being the deprivation of that real control by Parliament of the affairs of the Dominion, and placing it in the

hands of a Cabinet that grew al-1 most despotic. Manifestly such an undemocratic operation could not continue. If real progress is to be made on sane and sound <ines there must be a strong Government, a strong Opposition, and a leavening of Independents—men who conscientiously place country before party, and whose only ambition is serve the people in such a way as to advance their welfare as a whole without regard to keeping either party in or out of office. Such men can act both as a stimulus to the progressives, and a restraining force on legislation having a tendency to Socialism. The position is at present complicated by the Labor extremists, and the imperative need for preventing them from possessing the balance of power. The House

of Representatives urgently needs new blood of the right kind rather than 'new parties. Year by year polities tend to become the happy hunting ground of the opportunists, doubtless attributable to the spirit of the battle of wits to gain an advantage. It is quite possible that a fair proportion of representatives of sane Labor in the House might be productive of much good. Certainly Labor has a right to have a voice in the affairs of the country. With the extreme section, however, there must be no coquetting. "We cannot," said Mr. Isitt recently, "prevent extreme Labor voting with us against Mr. Massey, but suppose that by three votes of extreme Labor we could beat Mr. Massey, and by one vote turn him out of office . . I would a dozen times rather see the Reform Party in power than I would so see the Independent Labor Party." The only way to treat those who see "Red" is to oppose them at every turn. Both Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward have outlined their respective platforms. There are good, bad, and indifferent points in each, so that by taking only the best of both, a reasonably proeres-

sive programme of legislation could be evolved, provided the requisite guiding and driving power is available. In his bid for the workers' votes, Sir Joseph Ward has put forward a scheme for the nationalisation of industries that, if carried out entirely, would be inimical to the country's stability and progress. As we have endeavored to demonstrate, nationalisation aims at substituting the Labor caucus for parliamentary control, a danger that is too great to be tampered with, whilst it certainly will not add to production, the great need of the moment. His proposal to establish a State Bank, by purchase of the Bank of New

Zealand, or otherwise, is equally impolitic. "What is needed is a National Development Bank that will foster our rural development, our trade and commerce, and assist in furthering the prosperity of the country without detracting I from our credit or further reducing the value of our standard coinage ; nor can his proposals for utilising the accumulated surpluses of the Dominion be for a moment seriously entertained. On the other hand, Mr. Massey has put forward no concrete scheme for appeasing the land hunger, and so placing on the land the thousands of returned soldiers who are as anxious to do their bit towards increasing production as they were < to gain a victory over the enemy. I He has shown a disinclination to)

mra trie taxation screw to increase the graduated land tax (which would tend to make land available), the death duties, and the toll on large incomes. A more serious phase of his policy, however, has been the tenacity with which he has put up with the presence in the Ministry of non-progressive and inefficient colleagues, whilst the defence proposals of Sir James Allen may not only foster militarism and impose a heavy burden on the people for no good purpose, but seriously interfere with industrial activities. Under the circumstances, it behoves the electors to reflect, more seriously than ever before, upon the main features of the political situation. We venture to suggest that the only hope for the future good government of the country is the election of as many strong men of sound judgment? and broad views, untrammeled by binding party ties—men who will, if Liberals at heart, check unwise proposals, or if in the Reform fold, will spur on the Leader of that Party to deal with pressing problems on broad progressive lines, without fear or favor. It is statesmanlike action that is needed at this, the most serious period in the history of the Dominion, and not party bickerings. The heavy arrears of domestic legislation, the grave problems awaiting settlement, and the need for sound finance, call for the best brains and most far r sighted business men of the day, and the electors would act wisely by placing the exigencies of the country before the shibboleth of party.